Boost for Nigel Farage as yet ANOTHER Tory MP defects to Ukip

ANOTHER Conservative MP defected to Ukip today, in a huge boost for the anti-EU party.

Mark Reckless said he couldn't keep his promises as a Conservative[PA]

Mark Reckless, MP for Rochester and Strood in Kent, turned up at the party’s conference at Doncaster Racecourse.

The MP said he had found it impossible to keep promises to his constituents as a Tory.

Addressing an excitable room of Ukip members who cheered, chanted and waved Ukip posters, Mr Reckless said: “I promised we would cut immigration, reduce tax and decentralise power - not least over housing numbers.

“I promised above all to help get our country out of the European Union.

“I have found it impossible to keep these promises as a Conservative and that is why I am joining Ukip.”

He said he felt the leadership of the Conservative party “is part of the problem that has held this country back.”

After chants of “Ukip Ukip” by members, he said: “This is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have been a Conservative for as long as I can remember and I have many friends in that party in Parliament and in my constituency. I hope some will remain friends.”

He joins Clacton MP Douglas Carswell who defected to the party last month.

Mr Reckless told a rapturous reception his constituents felt ripped off and lied to by the Tories [PA]

I have found it impossible to keep these promises as a Conservative and that is why I am joining Ukip

Mark Reckless

Mr Carswell will take part in a by-election next month giving voters the chance to stick with the Tories if they wish.

Mr Reckless, who missed a vital vote on the budget in 2010 as he was too drunk, will also stand in a by-election. He told activists he answered to his constituents and wanted to seek their permission to change allegiance.

He said: "They are the boss and if I am to seek to represent them under different colours, I hope in a party that is closer to their values, then I shall ask their permission.”

He blamed the country’s immigration policy as part of the reason he wanted to move over to Ukip.

He added: “I like every Conservative candidate across the country in the 2010 election promised we would cut immigration from hundreds of thousands every year to just tens of thousands.

"But the reality is 243,000 more people come to our country last year than left and that is back to the levels we saw under Labour.”

He said the country “didn’t have a sense” of having a “sensible” control on immigration.

Mr Reckless won his seat in May 2010 with 23,604 votes - 49% of the vote. Labour's Teresa Murray came second, with 13,651 votes.

In July that year he was having drinks on the night of the second reading of the Finance Bill, which lasted until 2.30am. He was asked to vote but thought it would be “inappropritate” due to the amount he had drunk.

The Tories described Mr Reckless' defection as "completely illogical".

A Conservative spokesman said: "Mark Reckless' decision to join Ukip is completely illogical. He says he wants action on a European referendum, tax and immigration.

"The only party capable of delivering on these issues is the Conservative Party - and a vote for Ukip is a vote for Ed Miliband."